She’s back at it again!
In May, 34-year-old Manika Gamble made history by becoming the first African American woman to complete the 155-mile Namib Race through the Namib Desert in Namibia, Africa. This seven-day, self-supported trek through the world’s oldest desert was a monumental achievement. Now, Gamble is setting her sights even higher, aiming to become the first African American to attempt to conquer the Grand Slam Plus ultra-marathon series.
The 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus is considered one of the most challenging ultra-marathon series in existence, with only 18 people having ever completed it. The series involves five ultra-marathons across some of the most extreme and remote deserts on the planet, located in Namibia, Mongolia, Jordan, Antarctica, and Atacama. Each race spans seven days and 155 miles, requiring participants to be fully self-supported, carrying their own supplies including hygiene products, medical gear, and clothing.
Gamble sees this opportunity as a chance to make a significant impact and increase representation in the marathon sector for Black people.
“To be the first Black person to attempt to complete this mission is so motivating and inspiring for me to show the world that we too can be in places far and wide, and with the support of our community, we can go places we’ve never been before,” Gamble told Because Of Them We Can.
Gamble reflected on her first ultra-marathon in Namibia, sharing, “I wanted to embark on something my body had never experienced before and test my true capabilities. I wanted to inspire and motivate others who watched my journey. When I successfully completed that race, I realized I could continue to push my limits, boundaries, and history.”
This realization fueled her ambition to take on the Grand Slam Plus challenge, considered one of the most difficult marathon endurance challenges in the world.
To support her groundbreaking journey, Gamble has set up a GoFundMe campaign, already raising $13,000 of her $50,000 goal. To support her trek across all five deserts in the Racing the Planet series, click HERE.
We are all rooting for you Manika!
Cover photo: Manika Gamble Set to Become First African American to Complete Most Difficult Marathon Challenge in the World/Photo credit: Manika Gamble/Instagram